The kitchen is the most important place in any home! It, like a magnet, attracts household members, reflects the habits, character traits, and material well-being of its owners. This is where you can escape from pressing problems and gather the whole family around the big table.
It is very important not only to equip this room, but also to plan it correctly. The main criteria that should be followed when organizing a kitchen space are convenience and versatility. When planning a kitchen, the main thing is to rationally distribute every centimeter so that while cooking you don’t have to bend over or reach for something. That’s why when buying kitchen furniture you should take into account not only the material and color scheme, but also its dimensions.
There is no specific answer to the question of what the acceptable height of a kitchen set should be. There are kitchens made both according to the dimensions indicated in GOST, and models whose dimensions are selected individually. Let's find out what the Antares store specialists think about this.
How tall are kitchens made?
Before ordering furniture for the kitchen, it is important to consider the size and design features of the room. Companies that manufacture furniture most often focus on statistics and produce kitchen sets of standard dimensions. Based on this, the level of the tabletop ranges from 860-900 mm. For people with a height of 158 cm to 172 cm, this is quite enough.
If the height of the owners differs significantly, they think about an individual project. Then the furniture is made taking into account the client’s wishes and fits into non-standard or small-sized rooms.
To make it easy and pleasant to work at the work surface, its height should be slightly below waist level. The dimensions of kitchen furniture are determined taking into account the height of the person who usually prepares food for the family. It is not difficult to calculate the optimal countertop height in the kitchen:
- you need to stand with your back straight;
- bend your arm at the elbow;
- the acceptable height of the working plane will be 3-4 cm below the elbow;
- It is advisable to place the hob 5-6 cm below the elbow so that splashes of hot oil do not get directly into the face;
- For working with dough and kneading products, it is better to choose low-level surfaces. Because during these processes you need to apply physical force, it will be easier to do this if the movements are directed from top to bottom.
Typical sizes of kitchen units
Collections of modern kitchen furniture are developed taking into account the laws of ergonomics and consumer convenience. The average physiological indicators of a Caucasian person are taken as the standard in Russia, Europe and North America. If the parameters of the owner of an apartment or house are very different from the average, experts recommend making furniture to order or looking for exclusive models with dimensions changed up or down. Otherwise, working in such a kitchen will be uncomfortable.
Work surface with different levels
Consumers are increasingly choosing multi-level countertops. It is not only beautiful and convenient, but also very practical:
- during long cooking, the housewife does not feel tired, since the muscles of the buttocks, arms, and back experience insignificant tension;
- the working surface is divided into several functional zones, which greatly simplifies cleaning;
- You can harmoniously and practically play around with a non-standard shaped room, increasing the usable space, integrating surfaces into niches or free corners, behind which it is convenient and comfortable to work.
The upper tier is positioned so that you can reach the second shelf without standing on your toes. It is important to take into account the distance from the lower tier to the cabinets located above. It should be at least 450 mm, which will allow you to arrange household appliances and kitchen appliances with utmost convenience. The acceptable distance between the floor and hanging tiers is 550-600 mm, taking into account the fact that the kitchen will be used by people of average height.
Summarize
At first glance, installing a kitchen unit is simple. In reality, this is not the case - the procedure will require taking into account several important parameters: the height of the kitchen owner, the location of the stove and hood, the size of the furniture itself. If the installation is carried out incorrectly, the hanging elements of the set will be uncomfortable to use. If you are not sure that you can choose their position correctly, it is better to refer to the values established by GOST. It was designed in such a way that the furniture would be comfortable to use for people of all sizes.
gas stove
What height should I make cabinets in the kitchen?
It is impossible to imagine a kitchen set without wall cabinets. They are convenient for storing dishes, cans of cereals, and other accessories and devices. The load on the upper modules is large; you not only need to ensure reliable fastening, but also figure out at what height to hang the furniture.
Specialists at the Antares store advise installing cabinets in such a way that their top edge is no more than 250 mm higher than a person’s height:
- for people about 175 cm tall, the lower shelves of the cabinet are located at a level of 1 m 50 cm from the floor;
- tall people will be comfortable using cabinets located at a height of 1 m 80 cm.
If you do not follow these rules, then you will only be able to reach the top shelves with the help of a stool. It is important to take into account not only the height, but also the age of the people who will use the kitchen set. For an elderly person, it is better to choose wall cabinets of medium height; they are also not hung high, then there will be no need to climb a ladder or stepladder, which can cause injuries.
Since the shelves located at the top are difficult to reach, they are not used often. This space is best used for storing light items.
Before determining the level for the furniture canopy, it is advisable to take into account the following nuances:
- the height of all people living in the apartment;
- height of suspended modules;
- the distance between the tabletop and the top tier;
- ceiling height;
- filling of hanging modules.
If the cabinets are placed at eye level, this will allow you to reach the desired shelf without making significant effort. It is also important to consider the location of ventilation ducts; furniture should not block access to them.
The standard height of wall cabinets is 70-90 cm. This parameter determines how functional the kitchen furniture will be. When designing a kitchen, we take into account what will be stored in the upper tier. Often, small kitchens have tall cabinets to provide more additional shelves for storage. However, you need to ensure that there is no visual overload. Too tall cabinets will make the kitchen cramped and less cozy.
A kitchen set with an upper tier reaching to the ceiling is not installed in rooms whose height is higher than 3 m. Such a design will look unnatural, and it is almost impossible to use the shelves located at the top without the help of a stepladder.
It is customary to leave 30-40 cm of free space above the hanging modules. This is done not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for practical purposes. This gap is used for air ducting, as well as to get rid of clutter and hide annoying wires (for example, from a range hood).
In those areas where large household appliances are located, the height of the cabinets may be smaller, but not less than 36-40 cm. At the request of the customer, the height of the upper tier is increased, sometimes it can reach up to 120 cm. The most important thing is that the housewife can freely reach to the bottom edge of the upper modules.
Non-standard placement
In fact, any arrangement of hanging elements of a headset that does not meet the requirements of GOST is non-standard. But with him everything is clear. Another situation deserves special attention - when the kitchen is made according to an individual design of the manufacturing company without taking into account the provisions of the state standard.
It should be noted that currently the majority of Russian furniture enterprises do not adhere to GOST. However, their products are as close as possible to the requirements established by this regulatory document. But some manufacturers still produce furniture that cannot be called standard. Its dimensions differ from GOST standards quite significantly.
What can you advise in such a situation? The most obvious option is not to buy non-standard kitchen units. They are not suitable for most apartments. Even if you really like the set, it seems functional and convenient, you need to think a hundred times: how comfortable will it be to use it after installing the hanging elements? And how easy will it be to make this installation?
If you still really want to buy a headset, then before purchasing it is worth taking measurements in the place where it is supposed to be placed. It is quite possible that a non-standard set will be suitable for the kitchen. You can count on success if we are talking about:
- a non-standard apartment with a kitchen width larger than standard and with high ceilings;
- private residential building.
Otherwise, the installation of a non-standard headset is no different from the installation of a conventional one. It is necessary to take into account height, location of the hood and all other parameters mentioned above.
Kitchen corners
What to do with built-in appliances
It is not recommended to install household appliances inside wall cabinets, so their depth is approximately half that of the lower tier. If, however, a decision is made to hide a microwave or oven inside the module, then the depth of the cabinets should be at least 40 cm. Under this condition, the appliances can be used without difficulty. In order for the equipment to cool faster and to avoid a fire hazard, the back wall of the cabinet is removed.
Sometimes the hood has to be built into a wall-mounted module, then you need to take into account the type of connection of the stove. If it is an electric oven, the hood is placed at a distance of 70-75 cm and 75-80 cm - in the case when a gas hob is used.
In order for the kitchen set to look like a single whole, the width of the fronts of the top and bottom rows must match. There is no need to make the facade too wide, because when opened it will take up a lot of space. The standard width of the facade of one kitchen door is 30-50 cm, two – 60-100 cm.
Bottom cabinets for kitchen units
The following dimensions are typical for the lower tier of cabinets:
- height from the floor including legs and table top – 85-95 cm;
- The thickness of the tabletop is 2-5 cm and depends on its size and the material from which it is made. Thus, heavy, monolithic stone products are made thicker, and a model made of laminated chipboard can be thin;
- the depth of the table from wall to edge is 60 cm, and the cabinets themselves are 50-55 cm;
- the front ledge, which protects doors and drawers from splashes, is 3-5 cm. The ledge at the back of the cabinets has the same width;
- height of legs and base – 8-10 cm;
- The width of the products varies widely - from 30 to 90 cm.
If the owners want a fashionable, modern solution with a multi-level work area, then the lower cabinets are of different heights. For example, 80 cm for a gas stove, 90 cm for a cutting table, and 1 meter for a sink.
Working surface height
The generally accepted height of floor modules is 850 mm. However, this indicator can be adjusted if you install twist-out legs on the furniture. But most often they choose a standard base. For people whose height does not exceed 178 cm, a support with a level of 100-120 mm is suitable, then the total height of the bottom row will be 800-850 mm, working behind such a surface is pleasant and comfortable.
For a person above average height, select a base with a level of 150-200 mm, then the working surface will be at a level of 900-950 mm. For people with disabilities or those whose height is up to 150 cm, the suitable working surface height is 760 mm.
The level of the lower tier is calculated based on the following indicators:
- depth of the working area (600-700 mm). The larger it is, the wider the viewing angle and the more pleasant it is to be in the kitchen;
- the distance between the lower and upper tier. It is important to position the upper modules in such a way that you do not hit your head on them during operation;
- the optimal gap between the hob and the sink is at least 400 mm. This will prevent splashes of water and detergent from getting into the soup pot.
Keep in mind that the height of the working surface is also affected by the thickness of the table top (usually it is 3-4 cm). The table top reaches the kitchen apron; the joint is masked using a wall edge or kitchen plinth. A free space of several centimeters is left between the cabinets and the wall, which is used for laying gas and water pipes, masking wires, etc.
Standard
Manufacturers of kitchen furniture are guided by two basic principles - versatility and ergonomics of the product, without forgetting, of course, about design.
The calculation of the standard height of a kitchen set takes into account the frequency of the main directions of human movement in the room, the possibility of placing furniture in such a way as to minimize the waste of time and energy on necessary actions.
European parameters are calculated for housewives whose height is one meter 65 centimeters. Manufacturers also provide for the fact that built-in appliances fit seamlessly into standard furniture.
Depth of the working area in the kitchen
Recommended tabletop depth is 600 mm. This size will allow you to easily integrate “essentials” (sink, hob, etc.). The minimum depth of drawers is 460 mm, optimal is 560-580 mm.
If the size of the room allows, the depth of the working surface can be increased to 900 mm. Then the depth of the drawers is at least 760 mm. In professional kitchens, as well as in loft-style rooms, worktops with a depth of 1200 mm look good. Such a large surface is best installed in the center of the kitchen. This is a multifunctional table (also called an island) that increases the comfort of the kitchen and allows you to conveniently move to other workspaces.
To select the ideal depth of the working area, it is necessary to take into account the length of the arms of the person who most often prepares food in the family, as well as the dimensions of built-in appliances and tabletop household appliances.
Advantages of the island
The popularity of relatively new furniture placement is determined by the following points:
- convenience – the work area can be approached from any side;
- the possibility of zoning the kitchen space;
- the appearance of additional functional space;
- excellent ergonomics - all utensils and necessary equipment are within the reach of the working person.
Not the least role in the popularity of the island is played by the ability to choose the required height of the kitchen unit from the floor to the countertop, depending on what types of work are most often performed on it.
Built-in technology
The tendency to tie the oven to the hob is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Increasingly, this technique is being integrated at the torso level. The housewife does not need to bend low to the floor every time to check the readiness of the dish, and this is also very convenient from a safety point of view. Burns and injuries occur much less frequently.
Sometimes a washing machine is built under the countertop. Since the standard height of appliances is 850 mm, it is often necessary to increase the level of the lower base of the kitchen unit to 900-910 mm. This can be done using adjustable furniture legs or by replacing the standard 100 mm plinth with a 150 mm one. Based on this, it is worth considering that the upper modules will also rise.
It is customary to build a dishwasher into the bottom row. Its standard dimensions are 55 cm/60 cm/82 cm, so it fits under the tabletop without any problems.
Room area
The placement of furniture and the number of elements included in the set depends on the dimensions of the room. Based on a standard length of 1.8 - 2.6 meters, a width of three meters and a wall height of 3 meters, experts recommend using at least three components of the headset:
- gas stove;
- a cabinet with the surface area necessary for sorting and cutting food;
- washing
Such necessary units as a washing machine and dishwasher are installed in the free space, a refrigerator, a garbage bin and other necessary kitchen appliances are installed.
Corner models
This type of furniture placement comes in several forms:
- L-shaped;
- in the form of a trapezoid;
- similar to the Latin letter V.
The length of the rear walls can reach up to 60 centimeters if the interior design is trapezoidal. The width of the front sections is from 38 to forty centimeters.
The V-shaped placement of furniture provides for the length of the rear walls to be up to 80 centimeters, while the width of the facades of floor cabinets is up to 50 centimeters, and wall cabinets up to thirty.
In L-shaped kitchens, the most traditional placement of furniture is the design of a working triangle.
When placing furniture in corners, the height of the kitchen unit usually coincides with the standard dimensions.
Legs and plinth
Most modern kitchens are made on legs without a plinth (or with removable elements). This is a more convenient option compared to the outdated one, where the cabinet is placed on the body. Benefits of using legs:
- Easy to adjust headset height.
- Protection of the housing material from moisture.
- The kitchen looks less bulky, and it is possible to further improve the appearance by replacing the standard legs with higher quality parts with an attractive design.
- A set with legs is also suitable for supporters of solid facades, since the legs can be hidden with a plinth.
Scheme for attaching legs to the base of a kitchen cabinet
If the lower part of the kitchen is placed on the body, the adjustment possibilities are significantly limited (it will not be possible to imperceptibly compensate for a difference in floor level of 1.5–2 cm).
Expert opinion
Bashir Rabadanov
Technologist at the furniture company Woodband
The standard legs that come with most kitchens are made of durable polymer and range in size from 100 to 200 mm. Adjustment is carried out with a plastic nut, the stroke of which allows you to compensate for up to 4 cm of unevenness. Adjustable products are now available in chromed metal or plastic.
Drawers in the plinth
It is possible to increase the usable space of the lower bedside tables by placing additional drawers in their lower part. They are easily mounted both in models with legs and in sets without them. The main requirement is that the base height is sufficient for installation.
